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Like others have said, I am horrified at all the hassle you have had, however I personally have nothing but praise for Kirkcaldy Caravans!

I recently found a trailer on the internet which I wanted to buy, but it was only sold wholesale. I then had to find a company who would buy this on my behalf and build it up ready for the road.

Kirkcaldy Caravans not only bought it and built it, but did not charge me for the build.
They did an excellent job and later, when I wanted a spare wheel, they arranged this also and sent it through to me.

I am chuffed to bits with both my new trailer and the service I got from Kirkcaldy Caravans.
I have nothing to do with this firm other than buying this trailer through them, but I am very sorry to read that you have not had the service from them that I have enjoyed.

Well done on your patience and persistence.  I deal with complaints at work and some people make a massive drama out of nothing, seeming to just enjoy moaning.  You've a genuine reason for complaint and seem to have had nothing but appalling service.

It sounds like Chris and Mr Sempey are trying to help but they're both bound to realise that they can't go on just trying things in the hope that they'll work.  As a previous poster said, surely the 'van is not fit for purpose.

Our taps (2001 Elddis Avante) splutter a bit when being bled through but it lasts a very short time.  I could not put up with it in the way you have.

More power to you and, if you end up chaining your 'van outside Kirkcaldy's premises, I hope you get as much media coverage as possible.  Companies need to be aware that, when they're taking people's money, they need to give value for that.  I could understand you getting the brush-off if it was something trivial but spurting taps and sudden changes in pressure and / or temperature are dangerous.

Yes, it was a lengthy post (and I'm in danger of doing the same!) but I think you're fully justified in including the whole saga.  I think you've given a very balanced and un-biased account of the problem so well done.

Good luck, and do keep us updated.

The Europa was in the workshops on Tuesday (22nd) all day and Chris replaced the system from the inlet to the sink with parts from a new caravan, and found that the pipes below the fridge were kinked, and were both fitted in an insulating sleeve with the cable ties pulled up so tight they were flattening the hot water pipe when it got up to temperature.

Swift recommended a different type of pipe, so I think they were aware all along that the pipes were the problem.

The new system is a bit quieter, no surging or spluttering, but the shower pressure is poor so we may have to put up with that for the meantime. I'll try the system out tonight from cold to hot and see if the problem is resolved. If not......................?

Cookstown Caravans have offered two free services in recompense for the hassle we've had, but we think we'll be selling the Europa before that time comes around, and will not be repalcing it with any Swift built product, unless they improve their quality control and customer service, so that 'll mean a 'foreign' van maybe?

Although I have nothing but praise for the help Chris at Kirkcaldy gave me I still cannot understand why the management were quite content to allow the issue to drag on as it did. Lack of interest?                                                                   Swift have not even thought to get in touch, which is no surprise. Trading Standards emailed on Tuesday to offer assistance if we had/have any further issues. The Caravan Club eventually got in touch to say they had not received any details of the problem, though I sent the whole story, and passed the buck to the Legal Department. Practical Caravan website removed any reference I made of the problem, and I think I know who 'encouraged' them do that. The Sterling Owners Club failed to take the posting or explain why it was not accepted.

The only support I got was from UK Campsites and it's members, (well most of them were positive anyway!) for which I thank you.

Quote: Originally posted by Jake Drummond on 24/9/2009

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The Europa was in the workshops on Tuesday (22nd) all day and Chris replaced the system from the inlet to the sink with parts from a new caravan, and found that the pipes below the fridge were kinked, and were both fitted in an insulating sleeve with the cable ties pulled up so tight they were flattening the hot water pipe when it got up to temperature.

Swift recommended a different type of pipe, so I think they were aware all along that the pipes were the problem.

The new system is a bit quieter, no surging or spluttering, but the shower pressure is poor so we may have to put up with that for the meantime. I'll try the system out tonight from cold to hot and see if the problem is resolved. If not......................?

Cookstown Caravans have offered two free services in recompense for the hassle we've had, but we think we'll be selling the Europa before that time comes around, and will not be repalcing it with any Swift built product, unless they improve their quality control and customer service, so that 'll mean a 'foreign' van maybe?

Although I have nothing but praise for the help Chris at Kirkcaldy gave me I still cannot understand why the management were quite content to allow the issue to drag on as it did. Lack of interest?                                                                   Swift have not even thought to get in touch, which is no surprise. Trading Standards emailed on Tuesday to offer assistance if we had/have any further issues. The Caravan Club eventually got in touch to say they had not received any details of the problem, though I sent the whole story, and passed the buck to the Legal Department. Practical Caravan website removed any reference I made of the problem, and I think I know who 'encouraged' them do that. The Sterling Owners Club failed to take the posting or explain why it was not accepted.

The only support I got was from UK Campsites and it's members, (well most of them were positive anyway!) for which I thank you.

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Hope you have it sorted now, but it seems you have lost all confidence in the van and Swift.  Best of luck deciding what to do.

We're just back from five nights in Bunree and though the water pump is a little quieter the water volume is very poor. We see no solution to this one though, so it looks like we're stuck with it.

To add to the catalogue of defects the spring loaded door flyscreen, unused more or less so far, is no longer spring loaded! It gave up the ghost after being opened and closed a half dozen or so times on the first night. More crap components.

The blown air heating is very poor on electric too, despite having it on at full blast and with the fan setiings as described in the book.We ended up using a fan heater we used in the awning of our last 'van. (Oh to have it back!)

I'm so sorry to hear of your continuing problems with your new 'van.  I can't believe that it is still not sorted and you are finding more problems with it each time you use it! 

Getting a new 'van should be a very special and enjoyable time.  How many people get a new 'van in their lives?  I can see why you'd want your old 'van back but how sad to be feeling that way when you should be thrilling over your new 'van.

I'm still feeling thrilled at my new 'van and love to talk about the merits of it which is how it should be.

I'm not going to end this post with a hope you get it sorted soon because it doesn't sound as if you are dealing with people who want to help resolve it.  You should be given a new 'van as the one you have has never been that thrilling brand new van that most of us received.

Hi jake, sorry you are having probs with your swift. I to own a swift conquer 654,I have the same make of pump and Yes the pump is loud,when i got the van the water was surging & spluttering, I found the o ring at the water inlet wasnt sealing the aqau roll pipe fitting, so i fitted a better fitting

 o ring. That sorted it out. plus no running on, found one or two faults nothing i coundnt sort out myself. I know you have had a really bad time with your van, But reading wot other folk have said about other makes and cracking front and rear panels and after sales dealers etc, it looks like once they have took your money its sod you.

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The blown air heating is very poor on electric too, despite having it on at full blast and with the fan setiings as described in the book.We ended up using a fan heater we used in the awning of our last 'van. (Oh to have it back!)

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Mine is just the same i think most vans are poor just using the electric heater, On gas it is very powerful. 

I really do hope you get this carry on sorted out soon.

good luck.

After our Bunree weekend we got in touch with the dealer, again, and let them know about the door screen problem, and mentioned the fact that the draught from the sides of the fridge was pretty bad.

Chris said he'd come out and have a look rather than have us bring the van back in to Kirkcaldy. So we had the engineer out again and he sorted the door checked the seal behind the fridge (from the outside) and said all was well, but suggested using vent covers. So we fitted them (£32) and it was a wee bit better while sitting in the back garden, but a weekend in Aberdeen soon proved that this was not the solution as it was just as bad when the wind had a chance to get a good skelp at the side.

It got so bad in fact that a dishtowel, hung over the edge of the worktop and used to dim the fridge light at night, was blowing back and forth. I took the covers off the next morning as the temperature had risen a bit and the draught was unbearable. We hung two bath towels over the worktop in the evenings to keep it a bit warmer as the temperature dropped sharply when it got dark, down to minus 3 one night.  

As I'm a bit p*ssed off with calling the dealer for any more help I intended to have the fridge out this coming weekend and have a look myself but the engineer called on Monday morning to say he'd been at a Thetford day and had mentioned the problem to their engineers, and they admitted that the seal becomes useless if the fridge has been removed, requiring a 'duct tape repair'.   Seems there have been numerous faults with their various fixtures and fittings but they didn't see fit to alert the engineers by bulletin to let them know. Swift know about the problems too, including a fauly "toilet full" level light which fails, levaing the toilet to overflow.

A new van and a duct tape repair is all Thetford can suggest! Bloody useless.

When Chris arrives tomorrow I'll ask him to check the intermittent light fittings in the front of the sitting area too, yet another ''teething trouble' supplied FOC by Swift, which might account for the occasional burning plastic smell we get. 

No wonder their pre tax profits for year ending 2008, when our 'van was built, was £3.98 million quid. Shoddy workmanship, cheap fittings and poor quality control, a "get it out and get it sold attitude" and pish customer service will bring short term profits, but I for one will never buy any of their products again.

I've heard nothing from Swift regarding the caravan, no apology, no inquiry to see how everything worked out with the water problem they now admit that they were aware of all the time. The lad from Trading Standards has retained an interest in proceedings though and is aware of the 'new' issues with the caravan, and is a bit surprised it's not been back to Swift and checked over to ensure we've no other surprises in store.  

And before all the Swift lovers jump to their defence I realise that they have won a few awards this year; Best Tourer Overall, over 16 grand, under 12 grand, Small Family Tourer and Best Luxury Tourer, but I'll bet they didn't roll off the line and out to the dealer without being picked over to make sure they were spot on before the 'independent' judges had a look at them.

As I found out by looking at the other caravan related websites, Swift have their team giving 'technical input', and of course they are monitoring the web posts to combat any criticism, usually deflected any contentious posts by suggesting complainers are trying to force isues by posting, and I'm surprised they are not interfering here. Good for UK Campsites for resisting!

Sterling? Rubbish!

Follow up here;

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=8&TopicID=202832&PagePosition=2&ThreadPage=1&ReturnPage=Search&search=&searchIn=